Meaning

Primary

Radical

Word Type

noun

Explanation

Picture the part of your body that makes up your neck. Are you picturing it? That's a building block that makes up your body. A really important one. If you didn't have that neck, you wouldn't look like a person at all. Sound familiar? It should! Because that part of your neck is a radical! Just like part of your neck is a building block of your body, the radical is a building block of kanji. Get it? I sure hope so!

Reading

ぶしゅ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word that uses the on'yomi readings of the kanji. You haven't learned this reading for yet, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

When you need a radical to make a new kanji, you just press a button and the radical comes tumbling down the radical chute (しゅ). There's definitely no rhyme or reason to radical picking, it's just whatever pops out of the ol' chute.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 部首をしらべる

    to look up a radical

    部首を教える

    to teach radicals

    部首を学ぶ

    to learn radicals

Context Sentences

この字の部首は何ですか?

What is the radical of this character?

部首の名前はたくさんあります。

There are many radical names.

「切」の漢字の部首は「刀」です。

The radical for the kanji for "cut" is "sword."

Kanji Composition